Ba 73-626 Kentucky Bluegrass

ABSTRACT

A variety of Kentucky Bluegrass having a high level of disease resistance, good turf performance, and a very high level of seed yield potential.

BACKGROUND

Kentucky Bluegrasses having been disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,156 which issued on May 9, 1972; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,186 which issued on May 23, 1972; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,336 which issued on Nov. 28, 1978; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,280 which issued on Sept. 6, 1988; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,537 which issued on Jan. 17, 1989; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,538 which issued on Jan. 17, 1989; and U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,585 which issued Feb. 7, 1989.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and improved variety of Kentucky Bluegrass, Poa pratensis, that has been designated Ba 73-626.

Ba 73-626 plant material originated by crossing a Kentucky Bluegrass plant developed and maintained in the plant nursery as the seed parent with a Kentucky Bluegrass plant selected from PI-198075, a plant introduction from Sweden available from Germplasm Services Laboratory, Beltsville, Md., as the pollen parent. As a result of this breeding, a distinct variety was produced and asexually propagated by rhizomes, tillers and disseminules. Seed of Ba 73-626 was produced first at Marysville, Ohio and later at Gervais, Oreg. This seed was used for purposes of plant turf performance evaluation trials, including those conducted under the auspices of the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service and the Maryland State Turfgrass Council.

Asexual reproduction of Ba 73-626 by propagules (tillers and rhizomes) and by disseminules (modified caryopses produced by apomixis) has consistently produced progeny plants indistinguishable from the mother plant. The apomixis level of Ba 73-626 ranged from 100% to 98.8% (mean of 99.4%) based upon examining seedlings from four different crop years under constant growth chamber conditions.

Ba 73-626 has a number of highly desirable characteristics including a good level of resistance to Drechslera spp. (formerly called Helminthosporium spp.) that causes leaf spot, melting out and crown rot; Laetisaria fuciformis that causes red thread; Sclerotinia homoeocarpa that causes dollar spot; Puccinia spp. that causes rust and Phialophora gramincola that causes summer patch (formerly called Fusairum blight). Ba 73-626 has an attractive leafy turf type growth habit; moderately wide leaf blades; attractive green color which can be maintained throughout the entire growing season; good seedling vigor and heat tolerance; good turf performance as evidenced by consistently high scores in National Turfgrass Evaluation Tests sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture and conducted throughout the U.S.A. and Canada and a very high seed yield potential in the bluegrass seed production region of the U.S.A.

In comparison with most commercially available varieties, the new Ba 73-626 variety has a thicker peduncle, a wider and thicker flag leaf, higher seed yield, wider leaf blades and better winter color. In comparison to the pollen parent, the new variety has fewer seeds per pound, a much higher seed yield and more erect culms of mature unmowed plants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a Ba 73-626 Kentucky Bluegrass plant in the vegetative stage including the extensive root and rhizome system;

FIG. 2 shows a Ba 73-626 Kentucky Bluegrass panicle; and

FIG. 3 shows Ba 73-626 Bluegrass seed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

Ba 73-626 Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is perennial with creeping rhizomes forming a moderately dense turf. When plants overwinter in the field with freezing temperatures and are then brought into the greenhouse during late winter to continue growth undisturbed by clipping under moderate temperatures (60°-80° F.), culms are erect averaging 514 mm in length with an average of 2.3 nodes per culm. The uppermost internode averages 12.4 cm, and the peduncle averages 12.3 cm in length, and 0.772 mm in thickness. The flag leaf averages 5.8 cm in length, 4.2 mm in width and 0.119 mm in thickness. The panicle has an average length of 9.7 cm, width of 6.0 cm, and 5.5 whorls. The lowest whorl has an average of 4.5 branches and the third whorl from the bottom of the panicle has an average of 3.4 branches. The average spikelet at the tip of a branch in the lowest whorl is 5.8 mm in length and has 4.4 florets with an outer glume of 3.2 mm and an inner glume of 3.7 mm in length. A similar spikelet from the third whorl from the bottom of the panicle is 5.6 mm in length and has 4.1 florets with an outer glume of 3.3 mm and an inner glume of 3.6 mm in length. After the seed has been conditioned, the lemma has a generally smooth keel with occasional short hairs and a few long fine hairs at the base. The seed of Ba 73-626 is 2.98 mm in length and 0.80 mm in width with approximately 921,166 seeds per pound. Comparisons of Ba 73-626 with other varieties in terms of seed dimensions and seed numbers per pound are shown in Tables 1 and 2 as follows:

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Seed Measurements of Ba 73-626 and Other Bluegrass                             Varieties After Conditioning.                                                                   Length  Width                                                 Variety          (mm)    (mm)                                                  ______________________________________                                         Ba 73-626        2.98    0.80                                                  Abbey            3.18    0.88                                                  Coventry         2.86    0.78                                                  Estate           2.53    0.76                                                  Chateau          2.77    0.80                                                  Baron            3.07    0.86                                                  Bristol          2.73    0.80                                                  Nassau           2.96    0.78                                                  Newport          2.76    0.71                                                  Park             3.04    0.72                                                  Ram I            3.51    0.84                                                  Victa            3.20    0.86                                                  LSD (.05)        0.19    0.06                                                  ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Comparison of Seed Numbers Per Pound of Ba 73-626                              and Other Bluegrass Varieties After Conditioning.                                         Number of Seeds                                                                Per Pound                                                           ______________________________________                                         Ba 73-626      921,166                                                         Abbey        1,003,037                                                         Coventry     1,246,200                                                         Estate       1,275,740                                                         Chateau      1,300,105                                                         Adelphi      1,383,976                                                         America      1,659,824                                                         Gnome        1,017,641                                                         Baron        1,051,693                                                         Birka        1,223,530                                                         Bonnieblue   1,135,303                                                         Bristol      1,270,821                                                         Eclipse      1,335,668                                                         Fylking      1,130,000                                                         Glade        1,108,441                                                         Kenblue      1,463,923                                                         Merit        1,109,728                                                         Nassau       1,127,130                                                         Newport      1,226,481                                                         Park         1,248,349                                                         Sydsport     1,355,644                                                         Vantage      1,555,303                                                         Victa        1,038,298                                                         Windsor      1,520,885                                                         ______________________________________                                    

Since environmental conditions such as soil and climate may influence morphological characteristics to some extent, comparisons of morphological characteristics of Ba 73-626 are made with other Kentucky Bluegrass varieties in the following Tables 3-10:

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparison of Panicles of Ba 73-626                              and Other Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse                                at Marysville, Ohio.                                                                                    No. of                                                           Panicle                                                                              Panicle Whorls  No. of Branches                                       Panicle  Length  Width Per   Lower Third                               Variety Nodding* (cm)    (cm)  Panicle                                                                              Whorl Whorl                               ______________________________________                                         Ba 73-626                                                                              1.3      9.7     6.0   5.5   4.5   3.4                                 Abbey   1.4      7.6     4.2   5.2   4.0   2.7                                 Baron   1.0      7.8     4.1   5.2   3.8   2.5                                 Bristol 2.0      9.7     5.0   5.0   3.3   2.7                                 Chateau 2.0      6.8     3.8   5.0   4.0   2.4                                 Coventry                                                                               2.0      6.7     3.7   4.8   3.8   2.7                                 Estate  1.2      7.5     4.2   5.5   4.0   3.0                                 Nassau  2.0      10.0    6.0   5.0   3.0   2.0                                 Newport 2.0      10.3    4.4   4.5   2.3   2.3                                 Park    1.6      9.0     3.7   4.0   4.3   3.7                                 Ram I   2.0      9.0     4.7   4.0   2.5   2.0                                 Victa   1.2      7.5     4.1   5.4   4.4   3.4                                 LSD (.05)                                                                              0.5      1.6     1.0   0.8   0.7   0.8                                 ______________________________________                                          *Panicle nodding rated: 1 = erect, 2 = nodding                           

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparison of Spikelets of Ba 73-626                             and Other Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse                                at Marysville, Ohio.                                                                    Spikelet         No. of Florets                                                Length (mm)      per Spikelet                                                    Lowest  Third      Lowest                                                                               Third                                      Variety    Whorl   Whorl      Whorl Whorl                                      ______________________________________                                         Ba 73-626  5.8     5.6        4.4   4.1                                        Abbey      5.1     5.0        3.9   3.8                                        Baron      5.0     5.0        3.7   3.8                                        Bristol    6.2     6.0        5.7   5.3                                        Chateau    5.1     5.0        4.2   3.9                                        Coventry   5.2     5.2        4.2   4.0                                        Estate     5.2     5.0        4.2   4.2                                        Nassau     4.6     4.6        4.5   4.5                                        Newport    5.3     5.2        5.2   5.2                                        Park       6.5     6.7        5.2   4.7                                        Ram I      4.7     5.2        5.2   5.5                                        Victa      5.2     5.0        3.8   3.8                                        LSD (.05)  0.9     0.8        1.1   1.0                                        ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparison of Glumes of Ba 73-626                                and Other Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse                                at Marysville, Ohio.                                                                    Glume Length (mm)                                                              Outer            Inner                                                           Lowest  Third      Lowest                                                                               Third                                      Variety    Whorl   Whorl      Whorl Whorl                                      ______________________________________                                         Ba 73-626  3.2     3.3        3.7    3.6                                       Abbey      2.9     2.9        3.3    3.3                                       Baron      2.9     2.8        3.4    3.3                                       Bristol    3.4     3.3        3.7    3.9                                       Chateau    3.1     3.1        3.4    3.4                                       Coventry   3.2     3.1        3.5    3.5                                       Estate     2.9     3.0        3.3    3.3                                       Nassau     2.3     2.4        2.7    2.7                                       Newport    2.6     2.5        2.9    2.9                                       Park       3.0     3.2        3.5    3.7                                       Ram I      2.6     2.4        2.9    2.7                                       Victa      2.8     3.0        3.3    3.3                                       LSD (.05)  0.5     0.4        0.4    0.4                                       ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 6                                                          ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparison of Flag Leaves of Ba 73-626                           and Other Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at                             Marysville, Ohio.                                                                        Flag Leaf   Flag Leaf Flag Leaf                                                Length      Width     Thickness                                      Variety   (cm)        (mm)      (mm)                                           ______________________________________                                         Ba 73-626 5.8         4.2       0.119                                          Abbey     4.3         3.3       0.107                                          Baron     4.5         3.2       0.119                                          Bristol   5.5         3.4       0.127                                          Chateau   4.1         3.2       0.111                                          Coventry  4.7         3.2       0.112                                          Estate    5.2         3.6       0.117                                          Nassau    6.2         3.1       0.127                                          Newport   6.1         3.5       0.135                                          Park      4.2         2.6       0.110                                          Ram I     4.7         3.1       0.127                                          Victa     5.9         4.0       0.124                                          LSD (.05) 1.8         0.6       0.013                                          ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 7                                                          ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparison of Peduncles, Culms, and                              Internodes of Ba 73-626 and Other Bluegrass                                    Varieties in the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio.                                                               No. of Top                                             Peduncle Peduncle Culm  Nodes  Internode                                       Length   Width    Length                                                                               Per    Length                                  Variety (cm)     (mm)     (mm)  Culm   (cm)                                    ______________________________________                                         Ba 73-626                                                                              12.3     0.772    514   2.3    12.4                                    Abbey   10.6     0.564    421   2.7     9.3                                    Baron   12.7     0.555    482   2.5    10.1                                    Bristol 15.0     0.677    522   2.7    11.3                                    Chateau 12.9     0.654    439   2.7     9.8                                    Coventry                                                                               13.2     0.607    435   2.7    10.2                                    Estate  12.6     0.552    486   2.2    10.5                                    Nassau   8.0     0.546    450   2.5    11.2                                    Newport 18.0     0.567    547   2.3    11.2                                    Park    14.3     0.779    578   3.0    13.0                                    Ram I   18.5     0.622    527   3.0    10.2                                    Victa   12.2     0.716    474   2.4    10.6                                    LSD (.05)                                                                               3.7     0.018     79   0.6     2.1                                    ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 8                                                          ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparison of Leaves of Ba 73-626 and                            Other Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at                                 Marysville, Ohio.                                                                       Ligule  Leaf      Leaf  Leaf Angle                                             Length  Length    Width (Degrees                                      Variety  (mm)    (mm)      (mm)  From Horizontal)                              ______________________________________                                         Ba 73-626                                                                               0.29    215       4.4   46                                            Abbey    0.23    218       3.9   56                                            Baron    0.30    313       4.4   63                                            Bristol  0.30    253       4.3   37                                            Chateau  0.25    204       4.1   50                                            Coventry 0.26    218       4.1   55                                            Estate   0.28    239       4.4   52                                            Nassau   0.22    226       3.5   39                                            Newport  0.22    251       4.1   50                                            Park     0.33    329       4.2   44                                            Ram I    0.18    188       3.7   40                                            Victa    0.28    235       4.3   52                                            LSD (.05)                                                                               0.11     49       0.6   10                                            ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 9                                                          ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparison of Leaf Hairs of Ba 73-626                            and Other Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at                             Marysville, Ohio.                                                                      Hairs Around Ligule                                                            on Upper Surface Hairs on Hairs on                                     Variety of the Leaf.sup.(a)                                                                             Collar.sup.(a)                                                                          Ligule.sup.(b)                               ______________________________________                                         Ba 73-626                                                                              1.2              4.2      3.6                                          Abbey   1.0              3.4      2.2                                          Baron   1.0              5.0      4.0                                          Bristol 1.3              4.7      4.3                                          Chateau 1.0              3.5      2.7                                          Coventry                                                                               1.0              3.5      1.5                                          Estate  1.0              3.2      1.3                                          Nassau  2.7              5.0      1.0                                          Newport 1.0              4.0      0.8                                          Park    1.0              1.7      0.0                                          Ram I   1.0              3.7      0.3                                          Victa   1.0              3.3      2.2                                          LSD (.05)                                                                              0.3              1.4      1.8                                          ______________________________________                                          .sup.(a) Hairs around ligule and on collar rated 1-5: 1 = none, 5 = many       .sup.(b) Hairs on ligule rated 0-5: 0 = none, 5 = many                   

                  TABLE 10                                                         ______________________________________                                         Morphological Comparisons of Ba 73-626 and Other                               Bluegrass Varieties Grown as Unmowed Spaced Plants                             in the Field at Marysville, Ohio.                                              Mature                                                                         Plant Height.sup.(a)                                                                            Panicle Density.sup.(b)                                                                     Maturity.sup.(c)                                 ______________________________________                                         Ba 73-626                                                                              50           5            8                                            Abbey   49           5            7                                            Baron   44           5            9                                            Coventry                                                                               48           5            7                                            Nassau  46           6            9                                            Bristol 54           3            8                                            Merit   61           5            9                                            Glade   49           2            9                                            Ram I   49           3            7                                            Victa   54           6            8                                            ______________________________________                                          Ratings:                                                                       .sup.(a) Mature Plant Height (cm) includes panicle                             .sup.(b) Panicle Density  1-10, 10 = high panicle density                      .sup.(c) Maturity  1-9, 9 = most mature                                  

No discernible differences were noted in flower parts and seed coloration other than those characteristics listed in the above tables.

Ba 73-626 has performed well in regions throughout the United States, as exhibited by high turf quality ratings in many different locations in comparison with other varieties. In addition, Ba 73-626 has a pleasant medium green color which can be maintained throughout the growing season, good winter color, and early spring greening. Comparisons of Ba 73-626 with other varieties for quality and color are set forth in Tables 11-13 hereinafter. According to comparisons with the Munsell Book for Color during mid-June, the color of Ba 73-626 leaf blades is in the range of 5 GY 4/4 to 5 GY 4/8 to 7.5 GY 4/4. During the same time period the color of similar leaf blades of several other Kentucky Bluegrass varieties--Gnome, Midnight, Bristol and Victa--fell in the same range and as a result were indistinguishable based upon use of this color dictionary. Plant age, time of year, management practices of fertilization, irrigation and mowing also influence this color range. Additional comparisons for seedling vigor, drought tolerance, leaf texture, density, seed yield and sod strength are shown in Tables 14-19.

                                      TABLE 11                                     __________________________________________________________________________     A Comparison of Turf Quality.sup.(a) of Ba 73-626                              and Other Bluegrass Varieties at Various Testing                               Locations in the United States                                                        Testing Locations                                                       Variety                                                                               NC KS  OH OK  VA IN  NE NJ Mean                                         __________________________________________________________________________     Ba 73-626                                                                             5.0                                                                               7.5 6.7                                                                               5.8 4.9                                                                               6.9 6.1                                                                               5.8                                                                               6.1                                          Abbey  3.8                                                                               7.1 5.8                                                                               5.2 5.2                                                                               6.8 5.7                                                                               6.3                                                                               5.7                                          Able I 4.2                                                                               6.6 5.9                                                                               4.8 4.4                                                                               6.8 5.3                                                                               6.0                                                                               5.5                                          Amazon 3.5                                                                               6.9 6.4                                                                               6.2 4.4                                                                               5.0 4.8                                                                               4.9                                                                               5.3                                          America                                                                               4.3                                                                               7.3 6.8                                                                               4.9 4.8                                                                               6.8 5.0                                                                               5.8                                                                               5.7                                          Aquila 3.5                                                                               5.9 5.7                                                                               5.3 4.1                                                                               6.7 6.3                                                                               6.1                                                                               5.5                                          A-34   3.5                                                                               7.4 6.7                                                                               6.3 4.4                                                                               6.8 5.5                                                                               4.3                                                                               5.6                                          Baron  5.2                                                                               7.5 6.0                                                                               4.8 4.6                                                                               6.8 5.6                                                                               5.3                                                                               5.7                                          Barzan 4.2                                                                               7.1 4.9                                                                               3.5 4.4                                                                               7.0 5.2                                                                               5.5                                                                               5.2                                          Bristol                                                                               3.7                                                                               7.5 6.7                                                                               5.3 4.4                                                                               6.6 4.7                                                                               6.0                                                                               5.6                                          Chateau                                                                               4.8                                                                               7.4 6.8                                                                               4.4 5.0                                                                               6.1 6.2                                                                               5.5                                                                               5.8                                          Classic                                                                               3.5                                                                               7.2 6.0                                                                               5.5 4.2                                                                               6.6 5.8                                                                               5.2                                                                               5.5                                          Coventry                                                                              3.8                                                                               7.2 6.6                                                                               5.1 5.0                                                                               6.5 5.5                                                                               5.2                                                                               5.6                                          Estate 4.7                                                                               7.0 6.6                                                                               5.3 4.7                                                                               6.5 5.8                                                                               5.8                                                                               5.8                                          Georgetown                                                                            3.8                                                                               7.0 5.9                                                                               4.5 4.5                                                                               6.4 5.4                                                                               4.7                                                                               5.3                                          Glade  3.8                                                                               7.7 6.6                                                                               3.8 4.8                                                                               7.0 5.7                                                                               5.3                                                                               5.6                                          Gnome  4.3                                                                               6.9 5.4                                                                               5.1 4.7                                                                               6.5 5.4                                                                               5.4                                                                               5.5                                          Haga   3.8                                                                               7.1 6.2                                                                               5.6 5.0                                                                               6.6 5.2                                                                               4.5                                                                               5.5                                          Julia  3.7                                                                               6.7 6.4                                                                               5.4 4.7                                                                               5.5 6.0                                                                               5.5                                                                               5.5                                          Kenblue                                                                               4.2                                                                               4.8 4.8                                                                               3.6 3.7                                                                               6.0 4.9                                                                               3.7                                                                               5.5                                          Liberty                                                                               3.8                                                                               7.1 5.9                                                                               4.8 4.5                                                                               6.4 5.2                                                                               5.1                                                                               5.4                                          Merion 4.0                                                                               7.0 5.9                                                                               3.7 4.3                                                                               6.6 5.9                                                                               4.8                                                                               5.3                                          Merit  5.2                                                                               7.4 6.2                                                                               4.2 4.6                                                                               7.0 5.6                                                                               5.7                                                                               5.7                                          Midnight                                                                              3.7                                                                               8.1 6.8                                                                               4.7 4.7                                                                               7.1 6.3                                                                               6.9                                                                               6.0                                          Monopoly                                                                              4.7                                                                               6.5 5.1                                                                               5.2 4.9                                                                               6.9 5.3                                                                               4.7                                                                               5.4                                          Mystic 4.2                                                                               6.2 6.4                                                                               3.8 3.4                                                                               7.2 5.7                                                                               5.4                                                                               5.3                                          Nassau 3.5                                                                               7.7 6.4                                                                               4.7 4.7                                                                               6.1 5.3                                                                               5.3                                                                               5.5                                          Parade 3.7                                                                               7.3 5.6                                                                               4.8 3.8                                                                               6.2 6.0                                                                               4.6                                                                               5.3                                          Ram I  4.2                                                                               6.5 6.6                                                                               4.9 4.8                                                                               5.8 5.3                                                                               6.0                                                                               5.5                                          Rugby  3.8                                                                               7.0 6.0                                                                               4.7 4.4                                                                               6.4 5.6                                                                               4.8                                                                               5.3                                          Sydsport                                                                              3.8                                                                               7.5 6.6                                                                               4.4 5.3                                                                               6.2 5.1                                                                               5.0                                                                               5.5                                          Victa  5.0                                                                               7.5 6.3                                                                               4.1 5.2                                                                               6.8 6.0                                                                               6.0                                                                               5.9                                          Wabash 4.5                                                                               6.7 5.9                                                                               5.1 4.1                                                                               6.8 6.0                                                                               4.0                                                                               5.4                                          Welcome                                                                               3.7                                                                               6.7 6.3                                                                               3.7 4.5                                                                               6.9 5.4                                                                               5.5                                                                               5.3                                          LSD 0.05                                                                              1.1                                                                               0.7 1.0                                                                               1.7 0.8                                                                               0.7 1.0                                                                               1.1                                             __________________________________________________________________________      .sup.(a) Rating Scale 1-9: 9 = best quality                              

                  TABLE 12                                                         ______________________________________                                         A Comparison of Turf Color.sup.(a) of Ba 73-626 and                            Other Bluegrass Varieties at Various Testing                                   Locations in the United States.                                                         Wichita    Post Falls                                                                               Silver Springs                                   Variety  Kansas     Idaho     Maryland                                         ______________________________________                                         Ba 73-626                                                                               7.3        8.0       8.0                                              Abbey    8.0        7.7       6.7                                              Able I   8.3        7.3       7.3                                              Adelphi                       7.7                                              Amazon   6.0        7.3       7.7                                              America  8.3        7.7                                                        Aquila   8.0        6.0       6.7                                              A-34     6.7        6.3       5.7                                              Baron    7.7        7.7       8.3                                              Barzan   7.0        6.7       8.0                                              Bristol  8.3        8.0       7.3                                              Chateau  7.3        7.0       7.0                                              Classic  6.0        7.0       6.3                                              Coventry 7.3        7.0       7.3                                              Estate   7.3        7.0       6.7                                              Georgetown                                                                              6.7        7.0       6.3                                              Glade    7.7        7.7       8.0                                              Gnome    7.3        8.0       7.0                                              Haga     6.3        7.0       5.7                                              Julia    7.3        7.7       7.7                                              Kenblue  6.0        6.7       6.0                                              Liberty  7.7        6.7       6.7                                              Merion   7.7        5.3       7.0                                              Merit    7.0        8.0       7.0                                              Midnight 8.7        8.0       8.3                                              Monopoly 5.3        6.0       6.0                                              Mystic   7.3        6.7       7.3                                              Nassau   7.7        7.3       7.7                                              Parade   7.3        7.3       6.3                                              Ram I    8.0        8.0       8.3                                              Rugby    7.0        6.0       6.0                                              Sydsport 8.0        7.3       7.0                                              Victa    8.0        8.0       8.0                                              Wabash   6.3        6.0       6.0                                              Welcome  7.0        6.7       7.3                                              LSD (.05)                                                                               1.0        1.5       0.9                                              ______________________________________                                          .sup.(a) Rating Scale 1- 9: 9 = best color                               

                  TABLE 13                                                         ______________________________________                                         Winter Color.sup.(a) of Ba 73-626 and Other Bluegrass                          Varieties                                                                                 Testing Locations                                                                Puyallup  Agassiz                                                 Variety      Washington                                                                               British Columbia                                        ______________________________________                                         Ba 73-626    6.0       4.7                                                     Abbey        5.7       4.7                                                     Able I       7.0       4.0                                                     Amazon       2.7       4.0                                                     America      6.3       4.0                                                     Aquila       4.0       4.0                                                     A-34         6.0                                                               Baron        4.7       4.7                                                     Barzan       2.0       5.0                                                     Bristol      8.0       5.0                                                     Chateau      4.3       5.0                                                     Classic      6.3       4.0                                                     Coventry     4.7       5.0                                                     Estate       4.0       5.0                                                     Georgetown   5.7       4.0                                                     Glade        6.0       4.3                                                     Gnome        5.7       4.3                                                     Haga         6.0       4.0                                                     Julia        6.0       5.0                                                     Kenblue      1.3       3.0                                                     Liberty      6.7                                                               Merion       6.3       4.0                                                     Merit        5.7       5.0                                                     Midnight     6.3       4.7                                                     Monopoly     6.0       4.7                                                     Mystic       1.3       2.7                                                     Nassau       7.3       5.0                                                     Parade       6.0       4.0                                                     Ram I        3.7       4.7                                                     Rugby        5.7       4.3                                                     Sydsport     4.3       5.0                                                     Victa        6.7       5.0                                                     Wabash       3.3       3.3                                                     Welcome      1.3       5.0                                                     LSD 0.05     1.6       0.6                                                     ______________________________________                                          .sup.(a) Rating Scale: 1-9 Larger number indicates greener color         

                  TABLE 14                                                         ______________________________________                                         Comparison of Seedling Vigor.sup.(a) of Ba 73-626 and Other                    Bluegrasses                                                                                 Testing Location                                                  Variety      Ritzville, Washington                                             ______________________________________                                         Ba 73-626    3.0                                                               Abbey        1.3                                                               Able I       1.7                                                               Amazon       1.7                                                               America      1.7                                                               Aquila       1.3                                                               A-34         2.3                                                               Baron        2.0                                                               Barzan       2.7                                                               Bristol      2.7                                                               Chateau      1.7                                                               Classic      2.3                                                               Coventry     2.3                                                               Estate       1.3                                                               Georgetown   2.0                                                               Glade        2.0                                                               Gnome        2.3                                                               Haga         2.3                                                               Julia        1.7                                                               Kenblue      1.3                                                               Liberty      1.7                                                               Merion       1.3                                                               Merit        1.3                                                               Midnight     1.0                                                               Monopoly     2.0                                                               Mystic       2.7                                                               Nassau       2.0                                                               Parade       1.0                                                               Ram I        2.0                                                               Rugby        1.7                                                               Sydsport     1.7                                                               Victa        3.0                                                               Wabash       1.0                                                               Welcome      1.7                                                               LSD 0.05     1.3                                                               ______________________________________                                          .sup.(a) Rating Scale: 1-9 9 = most vigor                                

                  TABLE 15                                                         ______________________________________                                         Comparison of Drought and Heat Tolerance.sup.(a) of                            Ba 73-626 and Other Bluegrasses                                                             Testing Locations                                                                Post Falls                                                                               Marysville                                            Variety        Idaho     Ohio                                                  ______________________________________                                         Ba 73-626      7.7       6.3                                                   Abbey          7.7       6.3                                                   Able I         7.7                                                             Adelphi                  5.7                                                   Amazon         7.0                                                             America        8.0                                                             Aquila         7.3                                                             A-34           6.0                                                             Baron          7.0       6.0                                                   Barzan         6.0                                                             Bonnieblue               6.0                                                   Bristol        6.7       6.0                                                   Chateau        7.0       6.0                                                   Classic        7.3       5.3                                                   Coventry       7.3       6.0                                                   Estate         7.0       6.0                                                   Georgetown     6.7       4.7                                                   Glade          6.7       6.3                                                   Gnome          8.0       6.3                                                   Haga           6.7                                                             Julia          7.3                                                             Kenblue        6.3                                                             Liberty        7.7                                                             Merion         7.3       5.0                                                   Merit          8.0       6.0                                                   Midnight       6.0                                                             Monopoly       6.7                                                             Mystic         7.7                                                             Nassau         8.0       6.0                                                   Newport                  6.0                                                   Parade         5.7                                                             Park                     5.0                                                   Ram I          8.7       6.0                                                   Rugby          7.0                                                             Sydsport       7.0                                                             Vantage                  6.0                                                   Victa          7.7                                                             Wabash         6.7       4.0                                                   Welcome        7.3                                                             LSD 0.05       1.7       0.9                                                   ______________________________________                                          .sup.(a) 1-9 Scale 9 = most tolerant                                     

                  TABLE 16                                                         ______________________________________                                         Comparison of Leaf Texture.sup.(a) of Ba 73-626 and                            Other Bluegrasses Under Mowed Conditions                                                   Testing Locations                                                                Puyallup  Agassiz                                                Variety       Washington                                                                               British Columbia                                       ______________________________________                                         Ba 73-626     3.7       5.3                                                    Abbey         5.3       5.7                                                    Able I        7.7       6.0                                                    Amazon        6.0       6.3                                                    America       7.7       6.0                                                    Aquila        7.0       6.0                                                    A-34          6.7       5.7                                                    Baron         4.3       6.0                                                    Barzan        5.7       6.0                                                    Bristol       6.0       5.0                                                    Chateau       4.3       5.7                                                    Classic       7.3       6.0                                                    Coventry      4.3       5.3                                                    Estate        4.7       5.7                                                    Georgetown    8.0       5.3                                                    Glade         6.7       6.0                                                    Gnome         5.3       5.3                                                    Haga          7.7       6.0                                                    Julia         6.0       6.0                                                    Kenblue       5.3       6.7                                                    Liberty       6.0                                                              Merion        8.0       6.0                                                    Merit         4.0       6.0                                                    Midnight      6.0       6.0                                                    Monopoly      7.0       6.0                                                    Mystic        6.0       7.3                                                    Nassau        7.0       5.0                                                    Parade        7.0       6.0                                                    Ram I         6.3       6.3                                                    Rugby         6.3       6.0                                                    Sydsport      5.0       6.0                                                    Victa         3.3       5.7                                                    Wabash        7.0       6.3                                                    Welcome       6.3       6.0                                                    LSD 0.05      1.4       0.6                                                    ______________________________________                                          .sup.(a) Rating Scale 1-9 9 = finest leaf                                

                  TABLE 17                                                         ______________________________________                                         A Comparison of the Average Spring and Summer                                  Density.sup.(a) of Ba 73-626 and Other Bluegrasses at                          Various Locations.sup.(b)                                                      Variety         Spring  Summer                                                 ______________________________________                                         Ba 73-626       6.1     7.2                                                    Abbey           6.3     7.2                                                    Baron           6.1     7.2                                                    Chateau         6.6     7.3                                                    Classic         6.9     7.3                                                    Coventry        6.7     7.3                                                    Estate          6.1     7.3                                                    Glade           5.9     7.3                                                    Gnone           5.8     6.9                                                    Kenblue         5.9     6.8                                                    Merion          6.3     6.9                                                    Merit           6.0     6.9                                                    Midnight        6.1     7.7                                                    Nassau          5.7     6.8                                                    Parade          6.2     7.3                                                    Ram I           6.6     7.3                                                    Victa           5.8     7.1                                                    LSD 0.05        0.8     0.6                                                    ______________________________________                                          .sup.(a) Rating Scale 1-9: 9 = Maximum                                         .sup.(b) The testing locations were in Indiana, Ohio and Manitoba, Canada      for both spring and summer testing.                                      

                  TABLE 18                                                         ______________________________________                                         Seed Yield Comparisons.sup.(a) of Ba 73-626 and Other                          Bluegrass Varieties in Gervais, Oregon                                         Variety    Year 1  Year 2     Year 3                                                                               Year 4                                     ______________________________________                                         Ba 73-626  672     1136       760   1265                                       Abbey      691     1586                                                        Bristol    347      808       627    684                                       Chateau    559      757                                                        Coventry   643      930                                                        Estate     585      864                                                        Julia      296     1016                                                        Mosa       322     1060                                                        Newport    435     1256                                                        Victa      780     1394       855   1287                                       LSD 0.05   140      134       105    131                                       ______________________________________                                          .sup.(a) Seed yields: Pounds per acre                                    

                  TABLE 19                                                         ______________________________________                                         Comparison of Sod Strength.sup.(a) of Ba 73-626 and                            Other Bluegrasses under Mowed Conditions                                                      Testing Location                                                Variety        Remington, Virginia                                             ______________________________________                                         Ba 73-626      14.3                                                            A-34            9.7                                                            Able I          8.7                                                            Amazon          8.7                                                            America        18.7                                                            Aquila         16.3                                                            Baron          14.7                                                            Barzan          8.3                                                            Bristol         8.3                                                            Chateau        15.0                                                            Classic        15.3                                                            Coventry       11.0                                                            Estate         16.0                                                            Georgetown     14.3                                                            Glade          18.0                                                            Gnome          14.3                                                            Haga           13.0                                                            Julia          11.0                                                            Kenblue        16.3                                                            Liberty        11.0                                                            Merion         11.3                                                            Merit          13.3                                                            Midnight       14.3                                                            Monopoly        8.3                                                            Mystic         14.3                                                            Nassau          8.3                                                            Parade         12.7                                                            Ram I          11.0                                                            Rugby          11.7                                                            Sydsport       20.7                                                            Victa          16.3                                                            Wabash         10.3                                                            Welcome        18.0                                                            LSD (0.05)      6.1                                                            ______________________________________                                          .sup.(a) Sod strength measured in kilograms of tension needed to tear sod                                                                               

Turf diseases are one of the major causes of inconsistent and poor turf performance. Ba 73-626 has been found to have a high level of resistance to leaf spot (also known as melting out and crown rot) caused by Drechslera poae (formerly called Helminthosporium vagans), a medium to high level of resistance to rust caused by Puccinia spp., to dollarspot caused by Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, to red thread caused by Laetisaria fuciformis formerly called Corticium, to summer patch caused by Phialophora graminicola formerly called a Fusarium spp and to necrotic ring spot caused by Leptosphaeria korrae.

Comparisons of Ba 73-626 with other varieties regarding resistance to leaf spot, rust, dollarspot, red thread and summer patch are presented in Tables 20-23.

                  TABLE 20                                                         ______________________________________                                         Comparison of Leafspot Disease Incidence on                                    Ba 73-626 And Other Bluegrasses                                                       Testing Locations                                                                Marysville  Blacksburg                                                                               Puyallup                                        Variety  Ohio.sup.(a)                                                                               Virginia.sup.(b)                                                                         Washington.sup.(b)                              ______________________________________                                         Ba 73-626                                                                                8.3        6.0       8.3                                             Abbey                6.0       8.0                                             Able I               4.7       9.0                                             Adelphi  20.0                                                                  Amazon               5.3       7.0                                             America              5.3       8.7                                             Aquila               4.3       7.3                                             A-34                 5.3       8.7                                             Baron    10.0        5.7       8.3                                             Barzan               5.3       3.3                                             Bonnieblue                                                                              13.3                                                                  Bristol              5.7       9.0                                             Chateau              5.7       9.0                                             Classic              5.3       8.7                                             Coventry 11.7        5.7       9.0                                             Estate               5.3       9.0                                             Georgetown           5.7       9.0                                             Glade    11.7        5.5       8.0                                             Gnome                5.7       8.7                                             Haga                 5.7       9.0                                             Julia                6.0       9.0                                             Kenblue              2.3       1.0                                             Liberty              5.7       8.7                                             Merion   18.3        6.0       9.0                                             Merit    20.3        6.0       8.3                                             Midnight             5.3       9.0                                             Monopoly             4.7       8.0                                             Mystic               4.7       1.0                                             Nassau               6.0       9.0                                             Newport  46.7                                                                  Parade               4.3       9.0                                             Park     60.0                                                                  Ram I    16.7        5.0       5.3                                             Rugby                4.7       9.0                                             Sydsport 11.7        6.3       9.0                                             Vantage  45.0                                                                  Victa    15.0        6.0       8.0                                             Wabash               2.3       6.3                                             Welcome              4.3       1.3                                             LSD 0.05 17.6        1.1       1.6                                             ______________________________________                                          .sup.(a) Results expressed in % of turf affected by disease                    .sup.(b) Results rated on scale of 1-9: 9 = least disease                

                  TABLE 21                                                         ______________________________________                                         Comparison of Stem and Leaf Rust.sup.(a) (Puccinia spp.)                       Disease Incidence on Ba 73-626 and Other Bluegrasses                                    Testing Locations                                                                Adelphia   Riverside Post Falls                                                New Jersey California                                                                               Idaho                                          Variety    Stem Rust  Leaf Rust Leaf Rust                                      ______________________________________                                         Ba 73-626  7.3        5.7       8.7                                            Abbey      6.3        5.3       8.3                                            Able I     7.0        6.3       8.3                                            Amazon     6.0        5.3       7.7                                            America    8.3        6.0       8.7                                            Aquila     8.0        5.7       7.7                                            A-34       8.0        6.3       7.7                                            Baron      7.3        5.0       8.0                                            Barzan     8.0        5.7       7.7                                            Bristol    8.7        6.0       8.7                                            Chateau    8.3        5.3       8.0                                            Classic    8.7        6.0       9.0                                            Coventry   8.3        5.0       7.3                                            Estate     7.3        5.7       8.0                                            Georgetown 9.0        6.0       8.3                                            Glade      7.7        5.0       8.7                                            Gnome      7.7        5.3       8.3                                            Haga       9.0        6.3       8.3                                            Julia      8.0        5.7       8.0                                            Kenblue    8.3        5.7       7.7                                            Liberty    8.3        6.7       8.0                                            Merion     2.7        4.0       6.7                                            Merit      8.0        5.7       9.0                                            Midnight   8.3        5.7       7.7                                            Monopoly   8.0        5.3       8.3                                            Mystic     5.3        5.7       7.3                                            Nassau     7.7        5.7       8.0                                            Parade     9.0        7.0       7.7                                            Ram I      8.7        6.0       8.7                                            Rugby      8.7        6.7       8.3                                            Sydsport   8.0        5.3       8.3                                            Victa      7.7        4.7       7.3                                            Wabash     8.0        5.3       8.0                                            Welcome    7.3        6.0       8.3                                            LSD 0.05   1.0        1.5       1.4                                            ______________________________________                                          .sup. (a) Results rated on a scale of 1-9: 9 = least disease             

                  TABLE 22                                                         ______________________________________                                         A Comparison of Red Thread, Summer Patch, Necrotic                             Ring Spot and Dollar Spot.sup.(a) Incidence Level on                           Ba 73-626 and Other Bluegrasses at Various                                     Locations in the United States.                                                       Testing Locations                                                                          West                                                                 Blacksburg,                                                                              Lafayette,                                                                               Hubbard,                                                   Virginia  Indiana   Oregon  Columbia,                                          Red       Summer    Necrotic                                                                               Missouri                                  Variety  Thread    Patch     Ring Spot                                                                              Dollarspot                                ______________________________________                                         Ba 73-626                                                                               5.7       9.0       6.3     7.7                                       Abbey    6.0       8.0       6.0     6.7                                       Able I   3.7       8.7       7.3     6.3                                       Amazon   3.0       4.3       5.0     5.7                                       America  5.3       9.0       7.0     7.0                                       Aquila   3.7       9.0       6.0     7.7                                       A-34     4.3       8.3       5.0     7.3                                       Baron    4.7       8.7       5.3     7.7                                       Barzan   4.0       8.0       6.0     6.0                                       Bristol  5.7       9.0       6.0     7.3                                       Chateau  4.7       6.7       5.0     6.0                                       Classic  5.0       8.7       4.7     6.7                                       Coventry 5.0       7.3       6.3     7.7                                       Estate   4.3       7.3       6.7     7.3                                       Georgetown                                                                              4.7       8.7       5.7     6.7                                       Glade    3.3       9.0       7.0     6.7                                       Gnome    4.0       7.0       6.7     7.7                                       Haga     4.0       9.0       5.3     7.7                                       Julia    3.0       5.3       7.3     6.7                                       Kenblue  2.7       8.3       6.7     7.0                                       Liberty  4.3       8.7       6.0     7.0                                       Merion   3.3       8.0       7.7     7.3                                       Merit    4.0       9.0       6.0     5.0                                       Midnight 5.0       9.0       7.3     5.7                                       Monopoly 5.7       9.0       5.0     7.0                                       Mystic   1.7       9.0       6.7     7.3                                       Nassau   4.3       7.3       6.0     6.0                                       Parade   5.0       7.3       5.0     6.3                                       Ram I    4.3       4.3       7.0     4.3                                       Rugby    4.7       8.7       5.3     7.3                                       Sydsport 4.3       7.3       6.7     6.7                                       Victa    5.7       8.0       6.3     7.0                                       Wabash   3.3       9.0       4.7     5.7                                       Welcome  4.0       8.3       6.0     8.3                                       LSD 0.05 1.4       2.6       1.0     1.9                                       ______________________________________                                          .sup.(a) Results rated on scale of 1-9: 9 = least disease                 

What is claimed is:
 1. A variety of Kentucky Bluegrass plant, substantially as shown and described, characterized by a medium to high level of resistance to several serious diseases, including leaf spot disease, a desirable green color throughout the growing season, a strong sodformer, a high quality dense persistent turf under a wide variety of environmental conditions and a high level of seed yielding capacity. 